Goliath: A Novel

by Tochi Onyebuchi

“Onyebuchi sets fire to the boundary between fiction and reality, and brings a crumbling city and an all too plausible future to vibrant life. Riveting, disturbing, and rendered in masterful detail.”—Leigh Bardugo

In his adult novel debut, Hugo, Nebula, Locus, and NAACP Image Award finalist and ALA Alex and New England Book Award winner Tochi Onyebuchi delivers a sweeping science fiction epic in the vein of Samuel R. Delany and Station Eleven

In the 2050s, Earth has begun to empty. Those with the means and the privilege have departed the great cities of the United States for the more comfortable confines of space colonies. Those left behind salvage what they can from the collapsing infrastructure. As they eke out an existence, their neighborhoods are being cannibalized. Brick by brick, their houses are sent to the colonies, what was once a home now a quaint reminder for the colonists of the world that they wrecked.

A primal biblical epic flung into the future, Goliath weaves together disparate narratives—a space-dweller looking at New Haven, Connecticut has a chance to reconnect with his spiraling lover; a group of laborers attempting to renew the promises of Earth’s crumbling cities; a journalist attempting to capture the violence of the streets; a marshal trying to solve a kidnapping—into a richly urgent mosaic about race, class, gentrification, and who is allowed to be the hero of any history.

• ISBN10: 1250782953
• ISBN13: 9781250782953
• Publish Date: 25 January 2022
• Publish Status: Active
• Out of Print: 1 March 2024
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: St Martin's Press
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 336
• Language: English

Reviews

[Quirky Cat]

Tochi Onyebuchi is back with another blindingly brilliant and powerful novel, Goliath. Honestly, it will be a struggle reviewing this book because my words do not contain the same level of force found within this book.

By the late 2050s, the people of Earth have begun to look to the stars. In reality, that means that people with means of leaving are doing so. They're finding new homes in space colonies, leaving behind all they knew without a second thought.

Meanwhile, Earth continues to crumble. The cities left behind aren't staying for long as those in the colonies take every scrap of resource or memorabilia available. Once again, leaving those stuck behind with less than ever.

I just...wow. I'm sincerely struggling to find the right words to describe Goliath and how it made me feel. On the bright side, that's how you know you've found a good book – when it leaves you speechless.

Goliath is a complex novel that weaves science fiction elements with real-world problems, such as politics, racism, and the state of the world. It's not what I would call a light read, but that's not a bad thing.

I should probably mention that much of the story within Goliath isn't told linearly. So it can get a bit confusing at times. Honestly, it probably wouldn't hurt for me to read it a second (or even third) time. However, I think it is worth that time and experience.

Unlike most books I read, I found myself treasuring Goliath. I didn't read it all in one stint – but instead read a little bit here and there. It allowed me to better absorb all of the messages and material within the pages – and trust me, there's a lot.

Goliath is a poignant read, one that cuts to the quick and doesn't pull punches. It is brutally honest about the reality of space colonization – and who we would leave behind in the process. It is painful to read and forces the readers to really think about all of the implications within this concept. As such, I think Goliath is an essential science fiction read.

Thanks to Tor.com and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Read more reviews over at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks